Forty Years Ago

[Jim Pemberton]

Mike's touching story about meeting Frank Smith, a man who we all owe so much to, though few know of him, had me look back at some old photos of my father from those times.

These pictures are from 1976. The top left is from a trade show: Lee is talking to another one of my mentors, who was like another father to me, the late Jim Roden. On the top right is our cleaning company's first truck mount, a Prochem 400. The bottom left is a picture of Lee teaching upholstery cleaning with a Prochem 20, and then drapery cleaning with the same machine. While he doesn't have it on for this picture, he would always use, and train the students to use, a respirator. Back in those days, other trainers would make fun of his caution. Times have changed so much since then.

 

[Mikey P]

What does Lee think of the clear SS Pro?

 

[Jim Pemberton]

He thinks its great; understand that when he was training, using a truck mount to clean upholstery was unthinkable.

All of our industry innovations impress him, and he embraces them. He's a little irritated that I put those pictures up, because he thinks people should look forward, not back, and that he has not yet done his best work.

This guy just does not reminisce.

 

[Bruce Humphrey]

You have to know where you came from in order to go forward, it's not a bad thing for others to know that as well , others will understand what it took to get where we are today.

 

[Jim Pemberton]

You have to know where you came from in order to go forward, it's not a bad thing for others to know that as well , others will understand what it took to get where we are today.

Thank you Bruce, I just told him that. Its far sighted, and gives us perspective to what's important.

He just fixed me with a cold stare and asked if I had nothing better to do than post pictures on the internet.

He's 84, I'm 57, and I still feel like I'm 12 when I he gives me that look

I'm the luckiest guy in the world to still have him, not just in my life, but still kicking me in the tail to do better.

 

[Desk Jockey]

I love the photo's, it is our history. A history that is mostly lost to all the younger cleaners. With out posts like this the younger cleaners have no reference other than what they have experienced.

We as a group have evolved in those decades from fledgling service providers to a legitimately recognized industry.

How many industry leaders have we lost? How many early manufacturers are gone and forgotten?

I for one enjoy seeing what once was, and appreciate how much easier cleaners now have it.

Thanks Jim! Any time you run across old photos I encourage you to post them.

P.S.
1976...I was a high school senior.

 

[Lee Stockwell]

Installation & Cleaning Specialist magazine was about the only link we had to these early experts. We were so isolated then.

 

[dgardner]

1976...I was a high school senior.

I graduated in '76 as well. 660255 was my student ID number. I can't remember anything important, but I can't seem to forget this one, stupid, number...

 

[Desk Jockey]

The spirit of 76!
lol

My life was "Dazed & Confused". It was as if they had been there.

 

[Lee Stockwell]

I was 24, struggling with two babies, hungry for the kind of help we get here for free now.

Definitely want to pay it forward.

 

[hogjowl]

I'm a member of the bicentennial class as well.

 

[Jim Pemberton]

You guys made my night....1977

Suddenly I don't feel so fossilized

 

[Desk Jockey]

I quit counting at 45, I refuse to get older. lol

 

[hogjowl]

This started out about Lee.

And, of course, we all know who it'll end up about.

 

[Desk Jockey]

Moi?

 

[hogjowl]

As if there's any doubt in your self obsessed mind.

 

[Desk Jockey]

Now damn it!!! It's very difficult being Mighty, I do my best!

 

[Rick J]

You guys made my night....1977

Suddenly I don't feel so fossilized

descaler!!!!

 

[Russ T.]

The Kid was born in '76.

 

[Desk Jockey]

lol We thought we were some kind of gods in HS.

Huhh not much has changed, has it?

 

[Desk Jockey]

 

[BIG WOOD]

Mike's touching story about meeting Frank Smith, a man who we all owe so much to, though few know of him, had me look back at some old photos of my father from those times.

These pictures are from 1976. The top left is from a trade show: Lee is talking to another one of my mentors, who was like another father to me, the late Jim Roden. On the top right is our cleaning company's first truck mount, a Prochem 400. The bottom left is a picture of Lee teaching upholstery cleaning with a Prochem 20, and then drapery cleaning with the same machine. While he doesn't have it on for this picture, he would always use, and train the students to use, a respirator. Back in those days, other trainers would make fun of his caution. Times have changed so much since then.View attachment 16755

Before the magic of www. came in the 90's...if you had access to talking to these natives of our business, then you are probably the one of the most lucky of the carpet cleaners in your generation.

When I started my business in early 2000, I tried to survive without any of the forums or classes for the first 6 years. If my wife didn't have her job, I would've failed miserably at it and I would've jumped on an assembly line at one of the local factories for employment. When I started searching online, I found a lot of answers that I needed to know from the beginning from as simple as how to properly use my chemicals to just getting a website started.

My point is, there was none of that stuff in your generation, so I don't see how anyone made it without communicating to the fathers of this industry directly

 

[Desk Jockey]

Travel. My father send me to class all across the country. I even attended a Lee Pemberton's class in Phoenix.

We were just carpet cleaners at the time but were continually asked to do restoration type work. Lee put on an fantastic class but I was 22 years old. I was enjoying the trip more than the school.

Fortunately I took good notes within months of that class we had a school fire and referenced that class to get us through it.

We bought an Thermal fogger after seeing Lee demo it in class. Deodorized the school which not only paid for the fogger but cover the class, the trip and still made money.

All for a few hours of work. My dad and I couldn't believe it, we were on to something. We referenced Lee's class often and continued to see more training in the field.

Much different times, associations put on most of those classes. There were few distributors back then, so when a class was offered it was filled with people from across the country.

 

[Desk Jockey]

An oldie....me and the machine.

 

[BIG WOOD]

An oldie....me and the machine.

View attachment 16772

DANG!

 

[Mikey P]

I worked for Miller's and Coit for 14 years, found the Internet and its Boards in 2000.
I figured if these almost fictional goobers like "Marty" and "Ladwig" could run thier own gig, so could I.

I did 140k in sales the first 8 months, 250 the next year, 300 plus the next by my lonesome..

 

[dgardner]

An oldie....me and the machine.

View attachment 16772

And to think Richard gave up a promising acting career to become a simple cleaner.....

 

[SamIam]

80-81 before I chopped my hair. With my sister Tracy.

 

[Lee Stockwell]

View attachment 16777

80-81 before I chopped my hair. With my sister Tracy.

Which one are you?

 

[Desk Jockey]

And to think Richard gave up a promising acting career to become a simple cleaner.....

LOL


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